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Thursday, December 29, 2016

I hope everyone is having a happy holiday season. Just a reminder that our seats for the retreat are rapidly filling up. We only have 5 left, so if you intend to come, please get your registrations in soon. When we fill up, we'll be starting a waiting list, like we did last year. Happy New Year!

Rooms are available for
$96/night plus tax with reservations made directly through the hotel: (540)
678-4700. (1 king or 2 doubles) Ask for the block of rooms set aside for ASG.
(Block hold expires Jan. 10, 2017) There will be a $5/day parking fee this year.

The main sewing room will
be available from Friday morning at 9:00 until Sunday afternoon at 4:00. The
room will be locked when it‘s unattended so you may bring your supplies and
machines and leave them without having to pack up daily.

Space will be limited, so
don‘t delay your registration as this event usually fills quickly. Checks must
be received in order to hold your spot. An e-mail will be sent as
receipt of your check and registration.
*** Please make your checks out to NOVA ASG.

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The Northern Virginia
Chapter of the American Sewing Guild Presents…Winter Retreat 2017

Please RSVP to Kaye Gonterman by email or by phone at 703 . 590 . 8262, no later than October 15 for
planning and catering purposes.

A quorum is required for
election of officers to be held, so please make plans to attend. If you cannot
attend, return the proxy ballot that was included in the Fall newsletter by the
October 12 deadline.

On the ballot:President:Kathy Wright

1st VP:Adrienne Bennett

2nd VP:Sheila Bohannon

Secretary:Martha Walker

Treasurer:Kathy Saladino

Terri Johnson will be the guest speaker. If you
have been curious about the digital cutters that are storming the market you
won’t want to miss Terri’s presentation!

Reserve the Date for another fabulous 5th Saturday Program.Have you ever completed THE perfect garment but couldn’t find the perfect acces-
sories for it? Then make your own using the easy techniques of kumihimo. This ver-
satile form of weaving (braiding) can be used for garment trims, necklaces, earrings,
bracelets, hair ornaments, belts... get the idea?

Join Julie Witham and Kaye Gonterman and a group of your ASG friends as we
learn how to do a basic kumihimo weave necklace. We will also include some beads
for a bit of bling. These exact techniques can also be used to make a bracelet. Addi-
tional supplies won’t be available in class but good sources for additional supplies
will be provided.
The complete kit fee for this class includes:

 written and well-illustrated instructions for the project

 braiding materials

 coordinating beads

 magnetic clasp

 loom bobbin set

WHO: Northern Virginia ASG members – limited number of seats available

I’d never been to a full three day retreat, so this year I went with a friend out to the National Confer-
ence Center in Leesburg to meet up with, and make new, sewing friends. It was, truly, a great experience.
Thank you to Sylvia Gould and Karen Gilbert for your untiring volunteer efforts, and all who helped out.
Thank you to the center for the incredible service and the food – goodness. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll
know what I mean when I say it was like being a 12 year-old dining at Hogwart’s. Here are some of the photos
from the retreat, taken by Sylvia. Enjoy, and don’t forget to put aside the dates for the Winter Retreat in Win-
chester. Look for the registration form in the next newsletter.

Purchasing a ten year old power boat brought both the excitement of a larger vessel with more
creature comforts and the need for some repairs and upgrades. Not the least of these was the need to re-
place the canvas deck cover. After researching the market for custom made canvas, we realized this
would be a costly project estimated to be at least five thousand dollars. I had constructed seat cushions,
curtains, and other accessories for our previous boat, so I decided to investigate the feasibility of taking
on the canvas project myself. What unfolded was a job that tested my sewing skills and my ability to
plan and complete such an ambitious project.
For the sewing projects that I had completed for our previous boat, I relied heavily on a marine
canvas company, Sailrite. This company was started by husband and wife sail boaters who wanted to be
able to complete their own sailboat projects and sail repairs. Over the years Sailrite has grown into a sec-
ond generation family owned company that is an excellent resource for anyone who is interested in a
wide range of do it yourself projects from marine applications such as canvas covers and sail repair to
upholstery, window treatments home dec, outdoor living, and more. http://www.sailrite.com/

Sailrite has developed an extensive library of free videos to demonstrate and teach a multitude of
construction techniques, tips for choosing fabrics and other materials, tools and more. They offer both
an online and print catalog with a huge selection of fabrics, trim, thread, findings, etc.
Once again I turned to Sailrite to plan the project and acquire the necessary tools and materials. I
ordered all the materials and tools needed from this company including Sunbrella canvas, clear Strata-
glas vinyl, heavy duty weatherproof thread, heavy duty zippers, snaps, a hot knife and fastener installa-
tion tool. Along the way I received excellent support from the folks at Sailrite.
I spent about a month gathering information on materials, supplies and tools needed to do the job.
I already owned a Sailrite heavy duty sewing machine, capable of sewing through multiple layers of
canvas and other materials such as vinyl. I purchased a hot knife to cut the Sunbrella marine grade can-
vas, and a snap fastener tool. I was ready to start.
The first step was to make a pattern. We had de-
cided to alter the cover from the one that enclosed the
entire cockpit area to a drop down curtain.
Consequently, I couldn't use the old cover pieces
as patterns. I used plastic sheeting material called Duras-
crim to make the five pieces needed for the new curtain
enclosure. Once that was done, I needed to plan how I
was going to lay out and cut the pieces.
Several obstacles needed to be overcome. First
was creating the necessary space to store the vinyl sheets
prior to use, lay out the canvas and sew the components
together. At one point in the process I had vinyl sheets
laid out flat on my laundry room floor.
The sheets came in 54 by 110 inches and needed to stay flat until used to create the clear panels.
The family room became the cutting area. I used two 4x4' folding tables to make a large cutting and
assembly table. I also had to rearrange my sewing room to accommodate long and wide panels so there
was enough room for the pieces in front of and behind the machine.
The planning and patterning took the majority of the time needed to complete the project. Once I
had the materials and logistics under control, I was able to complete the actual sewing over a period of a
couple of weeks, working on it a few hours a day. The final step involved installing the canvas, a job
that couldn't have been done without the help and skill of my very
handy husband.

The canvas cover is now in its second season on the boat, and
I'm pleased to report it looks as good as the day we installed it. Yes,
it was a huge undertaking, but in the process I advanced my sewing
skills, learned a lot of new techniques and gained confidence in my
sewing abilities. And best of all, we saved approximately $3,500.00
over what it would have cost to have the cover made professionally.

In June ASG NoVa donated 95 dresses, 12 slips, eight nightgowns, and 25 tote bags! Another seven
dresses, six slips, and 40 tote bags have been donated.
Tender Loving Care Ministries, ministering to the clothing needs of underprivileged children of the
Appalachian Mountains, has merged with Prayers to Action in Kentucky. They service Kentucky, West Vir-
ginia and parts of Virginia.
Poverty in Appalachia is extreme. Many children live in
conditions that border on those of Third World countries. As a
result, many children are socially and academically behind by the
time they enter school. Between 75 and 80% of the children at
these schools live in homes where the income is below the poverty
level.
Things you can sew or make: Sizes 4 - 14 are the requested
sizes
For dresses, jumper & blouse sets, pajamas, slips and sweat-
ers, you may use any pattern suitable for young children.
Designs and fabric must be appropriate for young children.
Tights or socks, undies, hair bows, bracelets, and barrettes
can be purchased to complete the outfits.
Pajamas for boys and nightgowns for girls are also useful.
ALL garments must be labeled with size. Labels should be made of fabric that can withstand laundering
and permanently secured to the garment; if you cannot attach a fabric label please pin a paper label with the
size on the front of the garment. Please clip all threads.
Deadline:
Christmas Distribution is November 15 – long sleeves only on garments.
Garments will be collected at Sharing Threads meetings the third Wednesday each month. The last day to
turn in garments is Saturday, October 22 at the Annual Meeting.

Fifteen members registered for our third successful Fifth Saturday Workshop and made a Pet Screen
Summer Tote. We all had a great time and left with finished or nearly completed tote bags. The July 30, 2016
program was led by Michele Parker, assisted by Debbie Tollin, with special thanks to Ellen Rogers for provid-
ing the pattern and detailed instructions. Kaye Gonterman ordered the required supplies and prepared kits for
each attendee, who brought two fat quarters of their choosing for the tote’s focus fabric.
These totes make great beach bags because sand can fall through the screen bottom and sides; however,
they can also be used as purses and everyday totes. The fifteen designs were quite diverse despite everyone
using the same pattern and the themes included fruit, dolphins, batiks, water, bugs, graphics and fish.
You don’t want to miss the next 5th Saturday programs! Kumihimo Japanese Weaving is scheduled for
October; registration information is in this newsletter.
A honeycomb smocked ornament workshop is planned for the first Saturday in December since the
5th Saturday is New Year’s Eve. This fabric manipulation technique can be applied to garments to create inter-
est. Details will be available soon.
Then in April 2017 we are planning a quilted tuffet workshop! Go ahead and mark your calendars now
and plan to spend every 5th Saturday with your sewing friends learning something new.

NOVA Chapter Bus Trip to New York CityMay 19, 2018Meet at Fair Oaks Mall, 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA 22033, on Saturday, May 19, with departure at 5:30 AM.Arrive in New York City at 11 AM at Macy's and depart from Macy's at 8 PM.Return to Fair Oaks Mall at Sunday, May 20, 1:30 AM.Kenneth King Sit & SewFriday, June 29 - Saturday, June 30Location TBD